Dynamics of N2O emissions after C and N amendments of soil at the cattle overwintering area

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out at the cattle overwintering area in South Bohemia, Czech Republic, focused on the emissions of N2O after soil amendments with nitrate and glucose. Emissions were estimated using a permanent static chamber technique. Nitrate and glucose amendments caused very sharp increases of N2O fluxes, which however diminished after 2-3 days. Total amount of N2O escaping the soil was related to the amount of N and C added, and was calculated to 1-15 kg N.ha-1 (0.2-3% of N applied). Emissions were heterogeneous, which is shown by great differences among the individual chambers. Emissions were variable in time and very probably were controlled by temperature, as they approximately followed the air and surface soil temperature patterns. Despite the timing of amendment application, peaks of emissions were always determined 6 hours after the amendments